Hmm — an unnecessary 3D interface that will doubtlessly have tons and tons of advertising wrapped around a few so-so features, compounded with loading times. Even if they defeat the last issue, it's still a pass.

I'm still sold on this one. Looks great and hopefully the story will carry along nicely as well. This and Fallout 3 are the RPGs to look out for this year.

@StephenTotilo: Pretentiousness and intellect aren't mutually exclusive.

@Tellyn: Hah.

@Surfninja: In a word, exactly. Croal is very hot-bag-of-air-ish, someone who sounds like they really enjoy hearing themselves speak. Nowhere is that more visible than in print.

@Zaos: Oooh! We got a financial analyst in the house! Hilarious. If you use all the numbers they've provided publicly, apply the discounted cash flow model to it and you arrive at another loss.

@Archaotic: I humbly disagree. If you don't think GTA IV takes reality and fucks around with it, then you're probably after destructible environments or.. I don't know what. The game delivered as promised — it was a giant leap forward for the series, wrapped in what arguably is the best story in a game this…

@All: Claptrap. This is still a phenomenal game, despite the minor bouts of repetitiveness it experiences. Such insane attention to detail and recreating a warped, genuinely funny semblance of reality will definitely keep me playing until the DLC comes out.

We'll see what these cockholes come up with. Quit with the antics and make a good game already.

Mash those buttons! Mash 'em! Yeah!

@mva5580: Hear, hear. That's all I can say. In independents I trust.

@ReadNLearn: Agreed — like I said before, FutureShop's arrival on the scene will not change anything, just give us more stores under different banners offering the same products at the same price. No one wants thinner margins long term. Even if Futureshop undercuts at the start, they'll stop doing it pretty fast.

@NeVeRMoRe666: I really hope competition helps us. I think it's helpful to compare this to the wireless industry in Canada, where only Rogers, Telus and BCE are the current national players.

@skwish: That's slightly flawed, given that since the stores in most cities operate across the street from one another, anyone price shopping will end up gravitating to the 20 pct discounted version.

@Harrison20: You must live in a very affluent area. Where I'm from, you get really good deals at the independents — at least on the 360, PS3 and Wii side of things.

Here's a prediction: you'll continue to find the best used-game deals at independents. The Futureshop/BestBuy offering will be nearly identical to what EB Games has out on the street right now.

"That's one busy cute blonde right there."

Pre-launch surveys are routinely done by companies investigating the potential viability of a product, ie Call of Duty 5 in this case.

Aside from the horribly glaring story cliches, they've also shackled the game with a really really badly acted villain. Check the trailer. Also a no-no: characters seem to scream out the name of every special attack they use in battle. I'd imagine that will wear on the nerves pretty quick.

"Known as the throne of the gods, the moon rested peacefully in the heavens. Man enjoyed great prosperity by harnessing the power of the celestial body.